Week 16 PFF Grades: Minnesota Vikings’ Top Performers and Key Takeaways
The Minnesota Vikings edged out a nail-biting 27-24 win over the Seahawks on Sunday, improving their record to 13-2. Seattle isn’t an easy place to grab a victory, making this one even sweeter. It’s the Vikings’ first win in Seattle since 2006, back when Brad Johnson was the quarterback.
The Vikings are now shifting their attention to the Green Bay Packers, their opponent this Sunday. A win would move Minnesota to 14-2 and set up a Week 18 showdown against the Detroit Lions with the NFC’s #1 seed on the line.
Minnesota Vikings Week 16 PFF Grades
We can’t overlook this game against the Seahawks. The Vikings went from leading by 10 to trailing by 4 late in the game, but they fought hard to keep their NFC North hopes alive. Here’s a look at the top performers for the Minnesota Vikings this week, as graded by PFF.
Top 5 Offense
- Justin Jefferson – 81.5 PFF Grade (64 snaps)
- Sam Darnold – 78.4 PFF Grade (66 snaps)
- Blake Brandel – 76.2 PFF Grade (66 snaps)
- Dalton Risner – 68.7 PFF Grade (66 snaps)
- Jordan Addison – 61.5 PFF Grade (59 snaps)
Justin Jefferson was the top offensive player in this game, and if you tuned in, it’s easy to see why. He racked up 10 catches for 144 yards and two touchdowns, completely dominating the Seahawks’ defense.
#Vikings continue to find answers against split-safety coverage vs. Justin Jefferson. On this one, the pre-snap motion creates inside leverage for Jefferson; Addison's deep route occupies the safeties and Darnold throws a strike on the move. 27-yard gain. pic.twitter.com/0kfgzhTF2J
— Ben Goessling (@BenGoessling) December 23, 2024
It’s also worth pointing out that two offensive linemen made the list as well. With such strong play up front, the offensive line has been a huge reason why Sam Darnold has found success all season.
Top 5 Defense
- Dallas Turner – 91.3 PFF Grade (16 snaps)
- Theo Jackson – 85.3 PFF Grade (20 snaps)
- Pat Jones – 80.4 PFF Grade (27 snaps)
- Josh Metellus – 77.9 PFF Grade (64 snaps)
- Shaquill Griffin – 75.3 PFF Grade (25 snaps)
Rookie Dallas Turner earned the highest grade on the team, but his performance came with some challenges. He only played 16 snaps, recording one interception. The Seahawks made it a point to challenge Turner, and he held up formidably.
When the rookie dropped into coverage, Geno Smith targeted his receiver four time, which resulted in three catches. Nonetheless, his INT still pushed his coverage grade all the way to 93.5 and three catches.
.@UnoErra snags it!
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) December 22, 2024
📺: @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/wzbuV3yS8a
Josh Metellus stood out the most on the top 5 list, having the most impressive grade thanks to his workload. He played a whopping 64 snaps, racked up nine tackles, and even managed to apply some pressure on the quarterback with 4 total pressures.
Bottom 5 Offense
- Garrett Bradbury – 41.4 PFF Grade (66 snaps)
- Jalen Nailor – 50.8 PFF Grade (35 snaps)
- T.J. Hockenson – 52.2 PFF Grade (46 snaps)
- Cam Robinson – 55.2 PFF Grade (66 snaps)
- Aaron Jones – 55.7 PFF Grade (54 snaps)
It’s frustrating to see center Garrett Bradbury receive such a low grade this week. He really struggled with pass blocking, earning a 26.6 pass-blocking grade. His run-blocking grade wasn’t much better at 46.0, which contributed to his overall score of 41.1, the lowest on the team.
TJ Hockenson had a rough week, catching only 2 passes for 27 yards. He spent a lot of time on the line, earning a pass blocking grade of 18.1. However, he performed better in run blocking with a grade of 51.3. Hockenson will need to improve his play, as he’ll be a key piece for the team heading into the playoffs.
Bottom 5 Defense
- Bobby McCain – 52.3 PFF Grade (37 snaps)
- Blake Cashman – 55.1 PFF Grade (64 snaps)
- Jerry Tillery – 56.7 PFF Grade (23 snaps)
- Harrison Phillips – 57.3 PFF Grade (39 snaps)
- Stephon Gilmore – 58.8 PFF Grade (60 snaps)
Blake Cashman is definitely one of the most disappointing names on this list. The Vikings are 12-0 when he plays this season, which shows just how important he is to their defense. However, according to PFF, he struggled in his last game with tackling, earning a low grade of 31.9, which is why he’s ranked among the bottom five.
Related: Minnesota Vikings vs Green Bay Packers Flexed for Week 17
Bobby McCain had some big shoes to fill stepping in for Harrison Smith, and while he ended up with the lowest grade on defense, it’s worth cutting him some slack. This was the most playing time he’s had all season, and he had only appeared in two other games before Week 16.
The Minnesota Vikings continue to prove there worth
Riding an impressive 8-game winning streak into Week 17, the Vikings continue to prove why they’re 13-2 and one of the top teams in the league. Week in and week out, they show what it takes to stay at the top.
Even when key players like Blake Cashman and Garrett Bradbury have off games, there’s always someone ready to step up. Whether it’s rookie Dallas Turner or Blake Brandel, they’ve got the depth and resilience to keep pushing forward.
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